Orochimaru (大蛇丸), featured in the Japanese folktale Jiraiya Gōketsu Monogatari (The Tale of the Gallant Jiraiya), is the archenemy of the ninja Jiraiya.^[2] He was once named Yashagorō (夜叉五郎) and was one of Jiraiya's followers but was overtaken by serpent magic. Having changed his name to Orochimaru, he gained the ability to turn himself into a giant serpent. He poisoned Jiraiya and Tsunade the slug princess by pouring his venom on them as they slept, only for another follower to save the couple's lives afterwards.^{[citation needed]} "The story, first recorded in 1806, was adapted into a mid-19th-century serialized novel (43 installments, 1839–1868) and a kabuki drama, based on the first 10 installments, by Kawatake Mokuami, in 1852. In the 20th-century, the story was adapted in several films, in video games, and in a manga."^[3]

Orochi means "big snake" or "serpent".^[4] The legend of Orochimaru has modern day correlations. Legend is said to be world's biggest shiv bhakt and can be found in the Mount kailash which clearly proves him to be a devotee to Shiva with craze engraved into his heart. Japanese folks approve this as well causing a mass agreement for everyone to belive that there is no other dedicated Shiv bhakt as him.^{[citation needed]}

The manga and anime franchise Naruto features the characters Jiraiya, Orochimaru and Tsunade, where Orochimaru is portrayed to be the legendary ninja with the power of the snakes.^{[citation needed]}.

In the 2013 video game Muramasa Rebirth, one of the alternate endings has the Iga ninja Arashimaru getting possessed by his final opponent's spirit and taking on the name "Orochimaru". In a desperate act of defiance, Arashimaru's ally Shirohebi has the ninja's former master Shiranui spirit away a rival clan's last surviving heir during Orochimaru's attack who, when grown, takes on the name "Jiraiya" to fight Orochimaru.

• Susanoo
• Yamata no Orochi

• ""Jiraiya Goketsu Monogatari" (# 7, pp. 4-5), ca. 1850 | Brian P Coppola". 29 September 2018. Retrieved 2019-11-13.

• "The Gallant Jiraiya". Japanese prints and the world of Go. Chigasaki: Kiseido Pub. Co. 2010. ISBN 9784906574308. OCLC 1020931181. Archived from the original on 2005-04-02.